Method and means for handling cars in mines



oct. so, 1923. 1,412,696

M. STUFFLEBEAM METHOD AND MEAN'S FOR HANDLING GARS IN MINESl Filedv April 19, 1925 liatented Oct. 30, 1923.

. unirse srafrss 1,472,6ee Parent forties.

MARION sfrurrnnsnnra, or' sr. navrn, Irmrnorsf` METHOD Ann MEANS Fon Application ledApiril 19,

To all fro/0m it may concern:v r i Be it known that I, MARION STUFFLEBEAM,

a citizen of the United States, residing at David.) in the county of Fulton, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods and Means tor Handling Carsin Mines; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in-Y vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the art of mining, and particularly to the handling ot' empty and loaded cars in mines, to and from the shaft.

The principal object is to provide a method, and means, whereby to permit the motor car to pull the empty cars from the shaft to the entries, and to pull the loaded cars to the'shatt, thus obviating the danger incident to pushing the cars, especially when the train is made up of a large number of cars, and vwhich would prevent the mo tor-man from seeing the track ahead.

Another object is to provide a method and means for accomplishing the result desired, whereby the loaded cars and empty cars are adapted to-be placed in such positions that the miners may readily get the empty ones, and the motor car get the loaded ones, without interference.-

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when Y taken in connection drawing.

In the drawing: The gure is a diagrammatic View of the trackage used in the method, and the associated portions of the various entries of the mine..

Referring particularly to theaccompanying drawing there is shown a sectional detail of a portion oa mine which has the main entry 10, the north entries, and the south entries, there being two north and two south entries shown. The north entries will be designated as 11 and 11', and the south entries as 12 and 12', so that the description, which will follow, will be clear. Extending longitudinally in the main and side entries, and past` the mouths of the north and south entries, are the tracks 13 and 13', the former being termed the side entry track and the latter the main entry with the accompanying and 13', and approximately midway between the mouths of the north entries and `south entries, is a switchingV track 14,

Leadingfrom the north entries 'and connecting with the side entry track, are the north entry tracks'l and 15',each having a 'cross over switch, designated by the numerals 16 and 16', which lead over and connect with the main entry track 13. From the mouths of the south entries tracks 17 and, 17 lead and connect with themain entry track,` the former being shown at 18 while the latter, as shown at 18', also connect with the side entry track. The mine shaft is designated by the numeral 19. The intersections, or points where the cross overs 18' and 16 cross the main and side entry tracks, there are what are termed diamonds, designated by the numerals 2O and 20', respectively, the 'former having the curves 21 and 21- connecting the main entry track 13' with the cross over 18' and the south entry track 17. Beyond the mouths or" the entries 11 and 12 there is disposed a cross over or switching track 22, which connects the side entry track with the main entrytrack, for a purpose which will presently appear herein. rihe other diamond 20 has the similar curves 23 and 23',which connect the northr entry tracks 15 with the side entry tracks, and the cross over 16 with the side entry tracks.

The filled carsl are brought from the north and south entries and placedon the main entry track 13. The motorA car comes from the shaft 19, bringing a train of empty cars, and passes overy the curve 21, and the cross over 18', onto the side entry track'13, drawing the cars to a position between the adjacent end of the switching `)track 14, and the diamond 20. The motor car is then uncoupled from the empty cars, run along the track 13, and then back, onto the track 13', by means of the switching track Q2, and recrosses to the track 13, by means of the track 14. The motor car after being empty cars will then be in position tobe taken to the entries, as needed. The motor car is then uncoupled, runs onto the main entry track 13', overthe'crosg overv18, and

backed up and coupled to the train of loaded cars onthe track 13, after which Y the carsareV pulled to the shaft 19.

i. cluding longitudinal parallel entries, lateral entries communicating with the parallel entries and being arranged opposite each other and communicating between the parallel entries, of a railway including tracks extending y longitudinally in-ethe" parallel Ventries and Vpast the mouths of the lateral entries,

tracks in thelateral yentries and having con- Y nections with one ofthe adjacent parallel tracks, communications between the parallel tracks adjacent the lateral entries, and communications betweenAv the parallel tracks in` termediate the lateral entries. y

In testimonywhereo', I aIiX-my signa- Y ture, in thepresence oftwo witnesses:

' lMARION STUFFLEBEAM.

,- Witnesses FRANK HALE, `FRED. A. WEAVER. 

